Feasibility and effectiveness of computer-based therapy in community treatment

Abstract

Computerized therapy approaches may expand the reach of evidence-based treatment; however, it is unclear how to integrate these therapies into community-based treatment. We conducted a two-phase pilot study to explore (a) whether clients' use of the Therapeutic Education System (TES), a Web-based community reinforcement approach (CRA) learning program, would benefit them in the absence of counselor support and (b) whether counselors and clients would use the TES in the absence of tangible research-based reinforcement. In Phase 1, clients in the TES condition (n = 14) demonstrated large improvements in knowledge, F(1, 20) = 8.90, p = .007, d = 1.05, and were significantly more likely to select CRA style coping responses, F (1, 20) = 11.95, p = .002, d = 1.16, relative to the treatment-as-usual group (n = 14). We also detected small, nonsignificant, between-group effects indicating TES decreased cocaine use during treatment. In Phase 2, counselors referred only around 10% of their caseload to the TES, and the modal number of completed modules in the absence of tangible reinforcement was three. Computer-based therapy approaches are viable in community-based treatment but must be integrated with incentive systems to ensure engagement.